DCCC memo rallies Dems for 2014

The head of the House Democratic campaign arm is rallying his members ahead of the August recess, touting what he called Democrats’ strong fundraising and candidate recruitment as well as constituents’ frustration with Republican obstructionism.

“We are well-positioned to make 2014 a referendum on Republicans’ broken Congress,” Steve Israel wrote in a memo to be delivered to Democratic members Friday. “Republicans will have spent August confronting anger over their obstruction, blind party orthodoxy, wrong priorities and stances on the issues,” said the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

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Israel’s memo comes as immigration reform legislation, which the Senate passed in June, has yet to be called to a vote in the House. It also comes as battles with Republicans loom in the fall over a potential government shutdown and attempts to defund Obamacare. Democrats are banking on a voter backlash against the GOP-controlled House to win the chamber in next year’s midterm election, though most prognosticators expect Republicans to remain in power, if not to expand their 17-seat majority.

Israel wrote that the DCCC is outpacing the National Republican Congressional Committee in fundraising this year by $6.5 million. This financial edge combined with more in small-money donations and zero debt puts the DCCC in what Israel said is its “strongest financial position since we held the majority.”

The memo focused on dissatisfaction with the Republican Congress, especially over its members’ position on immigration reform. “Frustration with Republicans’ gridlock and obstruction has reached pandemic levels,” Israel wrote.

In addition to homing in on the DCCC’s recruiting efforts, which Israel said are outpacing those of 2012, he also named three top agenda issues for the party this fall: job creation, Medicare and expanding equal pay protections for women.

Despite the party’s long odds of winning the House, Israel said there is reason for optimism, citing a “solid foundation of strong fundraising and strong candidates.”